Sponge rubber wristlet



May 19, 1953 FLlNK 2,638,599

SPONGE RUBBER WRISTLET Filed Jan. 8, 1952 INVEN TOR. I-lennx FLmK.

Patented May 19, 1953 j UNITED? i Timmie@ i 'v f 'sPoNGEL RUBeER -W1us-'1'I'. E" r A'QHenry Flink, .Mortom Minn. Application january, 1952, serial No. 255,464

ThisA invention relates tov apparel adapted'. to be worn aroundl the arm .and more particularly to a wristlet for protecting' the" forearm against therflo'w of moisture from the users handly The'main object of the invention isto provide a novel and ,improved wristlet of simple construction which' isl easy to place on the wrist and which provides efcient protection of the users forearm against theiiow of moisturefrom the hand, whereby the userssleeve may be protected against becoming wet.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sponge rubber wristlet which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is sturdy in construction, and which is eiective in diverting water and moisture from the users hand so that said water and moisture will not come into contact with the forearm but will instead be diverted from the forearm, enabling the user to wash his hands or to perform other acts bringing his hands into contact with water without risk of wetting his sleeves.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent rom the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View of a persons hand and wrist having an improved wristlet device according to the present invention mounted on the wrist.

Figure 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top view showing a modified. form of wristlet according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures l to 3, the wristlet device is designated generally at II and comprises a substantially annular body of sponge rubber having a central aperture I2 adapted to receive the persons wrist, shown at I3, the aperture I2 being somewhat smaller in diameter than the average diameter of the persons wrist, whereby the wrist is snugly engaged in the aperture I2 when worn, the body of the wristlet engaging suciently tightly around the wrist to form a sealed connection therewith. As shown in Figure 3, the wristlet tapers in thickness from one end thereof to the other, and has a frusto conical surface, shown at I4. When the wristlet is worn, the thickest portion of the wristlet is located adjacent the wearers forearm and the portion of smallest diameter is located adis a top View of the wristlet device 2 Claims. (Cl. 2 4170) jacent the persons hand.r The main portion of the wristlet device is formed of sponge rubber of relativelyy coarse texture and the thickest portion of thev wristlet device. is formed integrallyl with said main portion but is of relatively ne texture,A as shown at I 1, the face ofthe wristlet adjacent the users forearm, shown at I8, being provided with a relatively smooth finish. When 1' moisture flows from the Ausers hand `onto thewristlet, the moisture is trapped in the relatively coarse-textured forward portion of the wristlet and flow of the moisture over the frusto conical surface I4 is retarded by the cellular surface dened by the coarsetextured sponge rubber. The moisture absorbed in the wristlet is prevented from flowing through the smooth-surfaced face I8 by the flow resistant barrier defined by the fine-textured sponge rubber II, whereby the moisture is vconined to the main body of the wristlet and cannot now through the smooth-surfaced face I8 onto the users forearm. Furthermore, in view of the ne texture of the portion of the wristlet adjacent the forearm, said portion is substantially prevented from absorbing moisture and the moisture will mainly be absorbed in the coarse-textured main portion of the wristlet adjacent the users hand.

To remove moisture from the wristlet, it is merely necessary to squeeze the wristlet, whereby the moisture :will be expelled therefrom.

Referring now to Figure 4, a modified form of wristlet according to the present invention is disclosed, said modified form being generally oval in shape and being designated generally at II. The wristlet I I' has the central aperture I2, similar to that in the previously described form of the invention and is generally frusto conical in shape, the portions of the device located along the major diameter thereof being provided with the sloping surfaces I4', I4 and the surfaces along the minor diameter of the device being of steeper slope. As in the previously described form of the invention, the wristlet is provided with a rear layer of fine-textured sponge rubber, whereas the main portion of the wristlet is of relatively coarse-textured sponge rubber. The wristlet shown in Figure 4 is employed in the same manner as that shown in Figures 1 to 3, and in order to remove the excess moisture from the wristlet, it is merely necessary to squeeze the thick major portions of the wristlet at the sloping surfaces I4', I4 wherein the moisture is mainly absorbed. As in the previously described embodiment of the invention, the moisture is prevented from flowing through the smooth-surfaced rear face of the wristlet and is confined to the coarse-textured main portion of the wristlet.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved spong rubber wristlet has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications Within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intendedthat no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A wristlet for preventing the 'flow of water from the hand to the forearm comprising a body of sponge rubber having a central aperture adapted to receive the wrist and tapering in thickness from one end thereof to the other, the body being adapted to surround the users wrist with the thickest portion thereof located adjacent the users forearm, the sponge rubber of the body adjacent the users hand being relatively coarse in texture, whereby moisture from the users hand will be intercepted on the flaring outer portion of said body, and the sponge rubber of the thickest portion of the body being rela* tively fine in texture, whereby the flow of moisture toward the thickest portion of the body will be retarded.

2. A wristlet for preventing the i'loW of water from the hand to the forearm comprising a body '4 of sponge rubber having a central aperture adapted to receive the wrist and tapering in thickness from one end thereof to the other, the body being adapted to surround the users wrist with the thickest portion thereof located adjacent the users forearm, the sponge rubber of the body adjacent the users hand being relatively coarse in texture, whereby moisture on the users hand will be intercepted from the flaring outer portion of said body, and the flow of moisture toward thethicke'st portion of the body willv be retarded, and the thicker end of the body, adja cent the users forearm being of relatively ne texture sponge rubber and having a smooth finish to substantially limit absorption of moisture by' 'said thicker end and to substantially prevent moisture from flowing through said thicker end to the users forearm.

HENRY FLINK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,127,926 Mason Aug. 23, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 321,705 Germany L June 1l, 1920 730,310 France Jan. 22, 1932 

